Media s Influence On Politics - 932 Words

Media and politics are different entities with distinct aim; however, both depend on each other. Politics use media to be known by the public and to advertise their campaigns while media needs politics to inform the public by giving visibility to politics. Media and politics work together and even though they are different, both impact each other . Since politics need media to provide good image and information about them. Media also can use its authority to exploit information on politics; in contrast, politics uses their power to settle barriers on information provided by media. Thus, the role of media can result in bad and good influence in politics. Media has provided no reliable information about politics to citizens. Sometimes media distort information to get people’s attention or even to get more buyers, but the problems are that it affects the relationship between politics and citizens. For example, one of the reasons for lower turnout comes from negative advertisement presented by media. During the 60’s to up now people stop caring about voting, it happens because conventional wisdom says that â€Å"negative ads wins voters .† Another example is if candidate A says that marijuana should be allowed in any state of U.S, the media can distort the information by saying candidate A is a drug dealer. However, what media does do not affect themselves instead help them to gets politics and people’s attention. Moreover, media makes politicians fight against each other byShow MoreRelatedThe Media s Influence On Politics1134 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Government The media’s influence on politics I decided to do research on the impact that the media has politics due to the factors that can influence society, as well as the individuals. Do you believe that social media plays a major role in politics and at times can be unfair by only showing one perspective? I personally believe that the social media, greatly effects politics and can be shown to be very one-sided on many occasions. Social media has been around long before itRead MoreMedia s Influence On Politics1422 Words   |  6 PagesThe media has perpetually influenced politics, for example, during the 2016 election, 91 percent of Americans learned information about the election from eleven various media sources. As it is evident that the media increases knowledge about multiple candidates and political parties throughout the country, within those sources, individualistic opinions and biases cloud the accurate information of what occurs. Although the press may be expanding awareness about the government and policy issues, itRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Politics Essay2357 Words   |  10 Pages â€Å"Social media s influence in this presidential election is stronger than it has ever been† (Lang par.4). It is undeniable that this 2016 election has been greatly impacted by the media. Whether it be social media or the more traditional forms of media, the impact is colossal. Many would say that this is great, because politics are evolving and appealing to younger and younger people. A tremendous amount of people believe that the surprising and quite impressive success of Donald Trump and hisRead MoreMedia s Influence On Politics1742 Words   |  7 Pages In the Public Eye: Politics and the Media Much of American life is guided by the influx of information received from the media. This results in the ability of the media to shape or mold the opinions of American society. Media is used in numerous areas concerning politics. â€Å"Without the media’s investigations, citizens would be forced to rely entirely on the information provided by politicians and the government, and would be deprived of an indispensable opportunity to evaluate issues carefully andRead MoreThe Political Economy Of The Media978 Words   |  4 PagesThis unit â€Å"The Political Economy of the Media† we try to understand what the correlation is between the political economy and its influence on the media and when did the economy start to effect the media. We will discuss within three different issues based on the readings issued; Newspaper, the discipline of journalism and the politics of the film industry. Each reading makes valid points and gives great real life examples of how politics a nd the media are in a symbiotic relationship. In BennettRead MoreSocial Media And Politics During The 1930 S Essay986 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Media and politics Prior to the 1930’s there was no state of union to the public. It wasn’t until the radio that politics and people came as one. Politics started using social media in the 1930’s with Franklin D. Roosevelt. With the use of the radio th president became the center of attention in the media. He used the media for everything. If was federal or foreign affairs because it was easy to rely on the one president oppose to congress. Also, president have a term â€Å"going public† forRead MoreThe Media: A Powerful Voice1088 Words   |  4 PagesThe Media is a powerful voice listened to by millions of Americans, as well as billions of people across the globe. For decades, the media has been an influential instrument in the political realm. In today’s politics, the media is a necessary part of the campaign process and is undoubtedly a powerful tool for candidates in getting their message to the public and the engine by which public opinion is formed. But just how powerful is the media? Dictionary.com defines the media as, â€Å"The means ofRead MoreEssay on Mass Medias Political Power967 Words   |  4 Pagesissues regarding media influence in politics 1. Does presentation and coverage affect voting behaviour and choices? 2. Do media have an impact on political struggle and decide nature of debates? Definitions of mass media Mass media are channels of communication through which messages flow, produced by a few for consumption by many people. As the messages go through the channels, they are distorted. When people receive mass-media messages, theyRead MoreThe Political Of Political Socialization863 Words   |  4 Pagespolitical socialization is vital in the developing of how one views politics, the way they act or choose not to act, and how they identify within the political system. Although countless influences sway or attract us to a given political view, party, or identification, there are undoubtedly certain factors that play a bigger role in this process. Some of the most prominent agents of political socialization are as follows; family, media, peers, education, religion, faith, race, gender, age, geographyRead MoreThe Media s Impact On Public Opinion936 Words   |  4 PagesThe media has always had a powerful impact on public opinion in Britain. With several different types and means of communication, such as TV, newspapers, social networking and radio, it is difficult for the public to not be even slightly impacted by the opinion of thousands that surrounds them every day. However, with newspapers spinning stories to promote the party they favour (such as the Daily Mail in favour of Conservatives or the Mirror in favour of Labour ) or to disparage the opposition, is

Police And Crime Commissioners ( Pcc ) Have On Police...

The focal point of this literature is the influence the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) have on police accountability and governance. The managerialism of policing in England and Wales is examined through the introduction of the PCC, and their responsibilities and powers for developing future strategies are assessed. The potential influence of the PCC on the role of the chief constable and their relationship is considered. This article will also reflect on the opportunities and challenges provided by the PCC and particularly the prospects of enhanced public accountability of policing as a result. Police and Crime commissioners are selected to make sure local police are meeting the needs of the community. Their overriding principles†¦show more content†¦The government became concerned about how effective police governance strategies were and started a process of consultation of police reform (Home Office, 2003). Following the deliberation under of 1962 Royal Commission on the police, accountability was distributed between the Home Office, local police authority, and chief constable. The 1996 Police Act, Police Reform Act 2002 and the Police and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1994 imposed the tripartite systems’ groundwork, however it was not always uncontentious (Mawby and Wright, 2005 pp. 4). Some argue that policing has become over centralised and distorted due to under governance, heavy with bureaucracy which prevents police from policing efficiently. The PCC want to implement greater local discretion and independence from central departments. From the elect ion of the PCCs, more influential powers will radiate from the public, they expect that electoral success will be reflected in the local police activity; resulting in pressure being placed on the police from the PCC to implement the programmes and priorities that brought the PCC to election success (Loveday, 2013 pp. 23). Also, the media and local pressure groups may exert pressure on them to keep election promises. An advantageShow MoreRelatedPolice Effectiveness And Police Performance1302 Words   |  6 PagesBritish Police are held to account, and will touch upon the paradox of police governance, the balance of unwanted coercion of police, financial stewardship and police legitimacy. This essay will also divulge into a discussion on the topic; is policing political? There will be an argument for and against, and the advantages and disadvantages to both sides will be conversed to achieve an accurate conclusion. In addition this essay will start by portraying the significance of Police Accountability. PoliceRead MorePolicing the Police: An Argument for Democratic Say in How People Are Policed Quenton King May600 Words   |  3 Pages Policing the Police: An Argument for Democratic Say in How People Are Policed Quenton King May 5, 2014 Dr. Wozniak SOCA 319  The role of police in their communities and society as a whole, is an interesting and unique position. They are citizens that are responsible for policing fellow, equal citizens and are the extensive arm of the government. Police are required to enforce laws set by the state, regardless of the effectiveness or rationality of the laws and any negative

D. W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation Analysis free essay sample

D. W. Griffith was raised on a Kentucky farm in Crestwood, with his father, his mother, and sister. His father was a colonel in the Confederate Army, and served Kentucky as a state legislator. His family raised him Methodist, and his sister did his schooling in a one-room schoolhouse. At the age of 10, his father died and his mother left the farm to move to Louisville, Kentucky. They struggled with poverty after that, and he eventually got into acting and filmmaking. He started off as an actor when his first screenplay was rejected. However, he started working with a production company called Biograph, and soon became the main director. However, his intentions and budget did not match up with Biographs ideas and motives, so he left with his clan of actors and formed a studio by the name of Reliance- Majestic Studios under the Mutual Film Corporation. When he made The Clansman, it became the first blockbuster. It was untraditionally long in airtime, and had great box office sales. However, there was controversy over the themes and romanticism of the Ku Klux Klan, and race relations during the Civil War and Reconstruction. From a technical side, this movie was successful, and many film historians conclude it was one of the irst feature length films. In Birth of a Nation, it reinforces the notion that slavery was a social and gentle experience for the slaves in many instances throughout the film. When there was a scene with the slaves, they were depicted dancing, singing, and being Jubilant. Even when Silas Lynch, the mulatto governor of the North, tells slaves to stop working, they put up a fght and do not want to stop. Then, there are many more cutbacks to slaves dancing around outside, and having a good time throughout parts of the film. This depiction enforces the Dunning School of History very closely for many reasons. It seems as though Griffith represented a lot of the ideals present in the school of thought in this movie. He showed that the South was suffering under the Union army, and did not present a real cause to the war. Basically, the South was already suffering with the start of the film, and was painted to feel sorry for. The Cameron family got poorer at the start of the war, while the Stoneman family in the North remained wealthy. In the movie, it depicts the Union army, with freed slaves, as a disaster, with irrationally hateful attitudes towards the South. The abolitionists, arpetbaggers, and Radical Republicans are the antagonists in the film, and Justify the forming of the vigilante group, the Ku Klux Klan. He depicted the Ku Klux Klan restoring order to the Post-war South in reaction to the misrule of their country. The freed slaves and Union army soldiers are portrayed as unnecessarily violent and sex crazed. This represents the Dunnings school notion that the former slaves will never be fully assimilated into the society because of their true nature that disrupts the natural order of their society. Moving on, the five character types Donald Bogle talks about are maintained in his film. First, Id like to mention the Cameron family maid named Mammy. An obvious portrayal of the mammy included darker skin, which is supposed to de sex the character, as well as a round body shape that is supposed to come off as motherly, which turtner takes away trom ner sexuality. In the tilm, sne is viewed as constantly loyal to the Camerons, in the face of the Union soldiers and people from up North. When the Stonemans butler comes into town, she is antagonistic towards him with her attitude. She denies the bags he tries to hand off to her, and eventually sserts her superiority in her house by kicking him into the back room. When he tries to express his sexuality towards her, she brushes him off, which further enforces the idea that the free blacks are over sexualized. The biggest sense of loyalty from Mammy we see is when she tries to protect her master from union soldiers arresting him for being in the Ku Klux Klan. Gus, the Union Solider, seems to be best associated with brute and coon tendencies, which is characterized by his sexuality towards Flora. The union soldiers in general represent the brutal buck character type because they are seen as violent, ncontrollable and sexualized in the film. Gus, also has coon tendencies, however, in the way his character expresses himself. His eyes are very big and full of expression, and seem to be laughed at a lot. He is used as comic relief in addition to his role as an instigator to the Ku Klux Klan. When he comes onto Flora, he is overly sexual and aggressive towards her. He seems to be out of control as soon as the interaction starts, and ends with a chasing scene through the forest. This goes along with the Moonlight and Magnolia theme that white women are the epitome of beauty, and how frail and delicate they seem. Silas Lynch is also depicted as overly aggressive in his pursuit and proposal to Elsie Stoneman. This represents the fear of miscegenation, as well as rape. The skewed view promotes the domination of women through portrayals of white women and black soldiers. The Stoneman housekeeper, Lydia, is portrayed as a mistress mulatto character. She is seen flirting with her master, and is one of the few character types to have a sexuality. Also, she is seen with the most humane depiction of anguish throughout the film. This indicates there might have been miscegenation, which was risky at the time because of the racial ensions in the south. To soften the blow to the white audiences in the South, she was portrayed with an antagonistic, even immature, persona towards the Stoneman family, and played a small role in the movie overall. She is also painted to be a schemer, and her light skin is an indicator of her sexuality, that contrasts the skin tone and servility of the mammy. The Tom represented in this film seems to be more of a plural, background character. In both houses, there seems to be a gentile, loyal, butler that are easily manageable, and used to enforce the idea that slavery is right. All the character types work to that effect, but what is interesting here is that the Tom and Coons seems to fade into the background, and are used as placeholders. The Stoneman family butler seems to be the most prevalent Tom character in the movie, and is not seen talking much in the film, Just in the background to enforce the idea of servants in the house to represent wealth. Before going on, more Moonlight and Magnolia themes are present in the film, which also coincides with the Dunning school of history. The southerners were viewed as heroic underdogs, even though they started the war. The cause of the war is conveniently left out; The South seceding from the Union, the split in Congress about slavery in new territories, and the attack on Fort Sumpter by the Conferederate army. Even Lincolns portrayal was skewed, as he was seen a saintly character in favor of slavery. His assassination was dramatized, and marked the start ot Reconstruction. Silas Lynch was elected Lieutenant Governor, and the newly elected, mostly black legislature was depicted as cheats and lazy. The blacks were stuffing the ballot box while the Southern whites were turned away. The scene in the courtroom showed the legislature as rresponsible, more into drinking alcohol and roughhousing than being responsible. This is an example of the belief that blacks will never be a fully functioning part of the Southern American society. The Tom represented in this film seems to be more servants in the house to represent wealth. I believe that Griffiths film should be regarded as slanderous, because the history presented is so offensively biased. It is like he painted the history to make up what he believed to be true. History is not as subjective as he makes it out to be. It is so far from the truth, and romanticizes the prising of a terrible group, the Ku Klux Klan. In no way should the actions of those hooded members be glorified. What they did in history was appalling, to say the least, and void of compassion. No Justification will ever convince me otherwise. I found this film to be offensive, and full of lives; so much so, it seems like a fantasy world of Griffiths. All of his character portrayals were in defense of slavery. His movie Just helped to perpetuate terrible stereotypes today, and has done way more harm than good. I am glad we have come a long way since this film has come out, and that his iews do not coincide with the majority consensus about our society. I wish it did not have such great success, because the impact it had on the film industry was detrimental on a moral level. The film had great box office success, but that Just represents how the Souths view on slavery needed to be addressed. Justifying slavery of another group of people is so wrong; where is the compassion? This film should not be regarded as a masterpiece, but a slanderous anti-negro portrayal, as Donald Bogle puts it. His legacy should be that of what not to do; and his views seen as void of reason or basis in reality.

The War in Afghanistan Essay Example

The War in Afghanistan Essay The War in Afghanistan and its Aftermath Your name Course name Instructor’s name Institution’s name Date of submission The War in Afghanistan and its Aftermath Introduction The war in Afghanistan has deep-rooted historical causes and aftermaths that are hard to assume or ignore when analyzing it. The war began officially during the Cold war era when Russia and the entire Soviet Union were not in unity with the US and friendly nations. Considering the closeness to Afghanistan, the Soviet Union stationed its army in Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries with view that it would later reap forfeited minerals and resources in the region (Robinson, 2013). Unfortunately, the US had prior knowledge of the potential of Central Asia and Afghanistan in particular. This understanding coupled with the friendship with oil-rich Saudi Arabia aroused and multiplied its interest towards Afghanistan and Central Asia as whole. The US positions itself as the leading advocate for human rights and democratic form of leadership within and outside its borders. The motive behind the roles is partially by virtue of its position as the world’s superpower and the need to retain the position. The war against terrorism in Afghanistan is a remarkable example of what the US can do to remain a superpower and reserve its powerful position in global politics (Sidky, 2007). The Basics of the War Afghanistan is a country recognized by its constant chaos. The country did not take sides at the time when other nations were fighting in the Cold War hence they enjoyed support from both the US and Soviet Union. The problem started in 1970’s when the county experienced harsh economic challenges (Gibbs, 1987). We will write a custom essay sample on The War in Afghanistan specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The War in Afghanistan specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The War in Afghanistan specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This was majorly brought by the extensive drought experienced that year. As a result, their government was overthrown by a group of youthful armed forces who alleged that the tough economic blow was caused by their leader King Muhammad Zahir Shah. They also accused him of undermining the political reforms of Afghanistan. After the government was overthrown, King Muhammad Zahir Shah’s cousin Lt. Gen. Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan was given the crown. In 1979, Lt. Gen. Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan’s government was also overthrown by the guerrilla forces which made the Mujahidin group to seize power (Kellner, 2003). The Mujahidin group controlled Afghanistan for approximately 20 years and failed to unite the people of Afghanistan (Goldman, 1984). Consequently, this led to the disagreement within its members. The Taliban took advantage of the situation and took control of Kabul in 1996 when they announced that they were the legitimate government in Afghanistan. Besides, the Taliban group was able to introduce a system of Islamic rule in the areas they controlled. At the moment, the country is trying to restructure itself after most of their buildings were destroyed by bombs and missiles at the time of war. In addition, it is regarded as one of the most wretched and poorest countries in the world. Even though the Taliban are no longer in control, the country is still faced with the problems of extortion, banditry, and â€Å"warlordism†. Arguably, the Taliban with Osama Bin Laden as their leader controlled the whole country. One of their main intentions was to destroy American embassies like in the case of Kenya and Tanzania respectively. The Americans only started to hunt for the Taliban leader Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 terrorist attack. Nonetheless, the Afghanistan president declined to hand over Osama Bin Laden to the American authorities as requested arguing that there was not clear proof that he took part in the attack. This provoked the Americans to launch missile attacks in Afghanistan in search of the Taliban. Within a few days, Afghan and Britain military forces joined the Americans to eliminate the Taliban (Bowden, 2012). Due to a lot of pressure from the Afghanistan, British and the American soldiers, the Taliban moved to the mountain sides of the bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. The American government assisted Afghanistan to form a new demographic government which president Hamid was chosen as their leader. The Taliban forces later regrouped and started attacking Hamid’s governments and the US soldiers (Sinno, 2008). Since the Taliban group was steadily becoming stronger, the American president decided to send more troops to counter their thrust. This war was initiated during Bush’s administration but later taken over by Obama’s administration. Their major objective was to free the Afghanistan people from the repression of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group. American forces ccomplished their mission by displacing the Taliban group from Kabul; a number of their leaders went to the neighboring Pakistan (Holmes Dixon, 2001) Causes of the Afghanistan war Since 1996, the Taliban terror group had power over a large region in Afghanistan. Additionally, this group was also able to introduce strict Islamic rules to the people of Afghanistan. For inst ance, women were not allowed to work outside their homes. They were also not allowed to study and attend public functions in the absence of a male counterpart. This group also allowed the Al-Qaeda to build their military training base in Afghanistan (Holmes Dixon, 2001). According to a number of researches carried out, roughly 3,000 American citizens died in the 9/11 terrorist attack (Holmes Dixon, 2001). The American government alleged that Osama Bin Laden was the one behind the attacks hence they devised a plan to overthrow the Taliban rule and replace it with a western democratic system of government. Americans launched a war in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from taking control of the country for the second time. It was also to prevent and control the movement of natural resources within and outside the country (Marsden, 1999). America understands the overwhelming interest that its competitors that like Russia and China have over the minerals and natural resources in Afghanistan. This understanding has seen the American government delay the full withdrawal of soldiers. Instead, the American government advocates leaving about 10,000 soldiers beyond 2014 to train Afghanistan security apparatus on counterterrorism tactics. This is just part of whole intention to prolong the whole mission to ensure that no other foreign government takes control or enjoys access to the Afghanistan valuable natural resources (Barnet, 2007). Historical and Contemporary Causes of the War The origin of the 9/11 attacks is thought to have started in 1979 when Afghanistan was at war with the Soviet Union. Soviet Union had raised a number of ideas on how to effectively govern and rule Afghanistan. They got involved into the Afghanistan politics in 1979 at the time when a pro-communist leader was being overthrown (Barnett, 2007). It is during this period that the Soviet Union and American soldiers were fighting in the Cold War. Consequently, the Americans had an interest in the fight as they wanted to check whether the Soviet Union would establish a socialist system of government. American government decided to provide financial assistance to the Afghanistan armed forces to be against the involvement of the Soviet Union (Meher, 2004). According to Robinson (2013), the overwhelming interest of the US in Afghanistan and Central Asia saw the US government through the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) conspire with the Saudi Arabian government to sponsor terror and militia groups. The created and sponsored terror groups that included Al-Qaeda and Taliban turned to become instruments for frustrating the missions and stay of the Soviet Army in Afghanistan and Central Asian region. The organizers of the whole plan that saw financing of Islamist militants to frustrate the Soviet Army named it the â€Å"Operation Cyclone†. This eventually enabled the US to oust their enemies from the resource-rich Central Asia while at the same time establishing groups that would later turn chaotic to the creators (Robinson, 2013). According to Robinson (2013), the contemporary cause of the war in Afghanistan dates back to the incidences of September 11, 2001 that saw terrorists suspected to be Al-Qaeda launch a heavy attack on the US. The bomb incident that crumbled the World Trade Center led to loss of many lives and destruction of several properties in the US. In the mean time, there was another embarrassing experience in Afghanistan as terrorist groups majorly Taliban and other Islamist militias suppressed the Afghanistan government alongside breaching human rights in the country. During this time, Afghanistan was under the rule of Taliban that overthrew the government in 1996 (Bird Marshall, 2011). Robinson (2013) reports that American intelligence believed that Taliban allowed terrorist groups like the Al-Qaeda to establish training camps within Afghanistan. This situation coupled with the destructive facts of 9/11 and believable intelligence that the perpetrators were in hideouts in Afghanistan made the US government plan military attacks in the region (Bird Marshall, 2011). Upon completion of the plans, the US military began official â€Å"Operation Enduring Freedom† in Afghanistan in October 2001. In November 2001, the US together with friendly armies managed to destroy militant camps as well as arrest some members of the insurgent groups and terminate the Taliban rule. This marked the actual beginning of the war in Afghanistan and projected specifically against the Islamist militias. As much as the motive behind the war in Afghanistan relates to the desire to restore freedom in the country, American interest in the oil and minerals in the foreign land confirms its continued stay in the country. Despite the criticisms directed against the American government from both within and outside America for its continued stay in Afghanistan even after the establishment of a democratic government, the American government seems reluctant to recall its soldiers. One of the reasons earmarking the stand by the American government relates to the fact that Taliban and other supporting militant groups are fighting to resume leadership over Afghanistan. Come back of Taliban is likely to destabilize and compromise the freedom and democracy currently enjoyed by Afghanistan citizens (Jackson, 2013). Positive Results/aftermaths of the Afghanistan War The war had productive outcomes for both the US and the Afghanistan people. For instance, the US geologists obtained natural resources after the Taliban was defeated. The geologists revealed that the country was rich in minerals. The discoveries revealed that the country had approximately $ 1 trillion in gold, and iron. Additionally, they also discovered that the country had numerous lithium, copper, and cobalt deposits. Availability of the above minerals is enough to improve the economy of Afghanistan. The Taliban were no longer able to launch their attacks. This gave enough room for the arrest of Osama, the Al-Qaeda leader (Meher, 2004). The Afghanistan war has had notable positive results to the both the local citizens and foreign governments. Initially before the intervention of the American soldiers to trigger the war, citizens succumbed to suffrages due to lawlessness of the ruling authority. The Taliban leadership that ruled since 1996 until November 2001 breached and abused the fundamental freedom and democracy of people with which they had obligation to protect. The war also helped cushion the citizens from the consequences of the terrorist groups like al-Qaeda that could frustrate the public (Rubin, 2012). Moreover, the intervention of the American soldiers that triggered the Afghanistan war helped in restoring a democratic government that is working to ensure useful and beneficial exploration of the country’s natural resources. It is without doubt that even if America is benefitting from the oil and other minerals, Afghanistan citizens are realizing positive economic, social and political growth financed by the dollars. In addition, the war in Afghanistan that led to manhunt of Al-Qaeda and other Islamist militias and eventual killing of personalities like Osama Bin Laden marks important mileage in antiterrorist wars (Rubin, 2012). Negative aftermaths/Effects of the war The Afghanistan war led to a number of negative effects. The American economy was greatly affected considering that they spent a lot of money in buying the equipments which were used to fight the Taliban group. The war led to the death of many US soldiers and Afghanistan people. For instance, statistics indicate that approximately 2,000 American soldiers and 20,000 Afghanistan citizens died during the war (Schmitt Naval, 2009). The war in Afghanistan also presents certain realities of loses to both the Afghanistan citizens and the US. To begin with, the war against the terrorists led to massive damages to Afghanistan infrastructure. Trotta (2011) adds that to retaliate against the attacks by the US soldiers, the insurgents target public utilities where they destroy properties and infrastructure. In addition, the war has led to death of many people at the range of 224,000 to 258,000 who are soldiers, terrorists or innocent citizens (Trotta, 2011). Moreover, the war has led to great waste of money by both the American government and the insurgents. For instance, the current statistics unveil that the US government has spent a total of at least $3. trillion on the operation. According Fatima Sari (2008), this value is likely to rise to the excess of $4. 4 trillion if the war continues as projected by the US government. Many US soldiers also died in the battlefield with some of those who survived the aftermath succumbing to post traumatic disorder. Conclusion The war in Afghanistan is part of the whole mission by the US to ensure sustained peace, tranquility and security across the world. The US is also using the war to reinstate its position as the world’s superpower as demonstrated by its intent to control valuable natural resources in Afghanistan. The war has had both positive and negative impacts to both the US, and Afghanistan government. Even though the Afghanistan war brought a number of problems to the US troops and the local citizens, it brought some freedom in the country. Overthrowing of governments can no longer be experienced in this country. Additionally, a democratic government has also been brought back. Consequently, the natural resources that were once under the control of the Taliban are now monitored by an independent government. This has ensured even distribution of resources in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is slowly being reconstructed from the destructions it encountered during the war. Consequently, it is expected to be an economic center and democratic country in the next few years. References Barnett, R. R. (2002). The fragmentation of Afghanistan: State formation and collapse in the international system (2nd ed. ). Connecticut: Yale University Press. Barnett, R. R. (2007). Saving Afghanistan. Foreign affairs, 86(1), 57-74, 76-78. Bird, T. Marshall, A. (2011). Afghanistan: How the West lost its way. Yale: Yale University Press. Bowden, M. (2012). The finish: The killing of Osama Bin Laden. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press. Fatima, A. Sari, K. (2008). Righting the course? Humanitarian intervention, the war on terror and the future of Afghanistan. Institute of International Affairs, 84 (4), 641-657. Gibbs, B. (1987). Does the USSR have a grand strategy? Reinterpreting the invasion of Afghanistan. Journal of Peace research, 24(4), 365-379. Goldman, M. F. (1984). Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan: Roots causes. Polity, 16 (3), 384-403. Holmes, D. , Dixon, N. (2001). Behind the US war on Afghanistan. Chippendale, N. S. W: Resistance. Kellner, D. (2003). From 9/11 to terror war: The dangers of the Bush legacy. Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield. Marsden, P. (1999). The Taliban: War, religion and the new order in Afghanistan. Karachi: Oxford University Press. Meher, J. (2004). Americas Afghanistan war: The success that failed. Delhi: Kalpaz Publ. Schmitt, M. N. , Naval War College (U. S. ). (2009). The war in Afghanistan: A legal analysis. Newport, RI: Naval War College. Sidky, H. (2007). War, changing patterns of warfare, state collapse, and transnational violence in Afghanistan: 1978-2001. Modern Asian Studies, 41(4), 849-888. Sinno, A. H. (2008). Organizations at war in Afghanistan and beyond. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

#8220;Analytical Essay Sample on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 3 Elements of Romance#8221;

#8220;Analytical Essay Sample on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 3 Elements of Romance#8221; The tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by John Gardner, is a prime example of a romance in literature. The story focuses on three elements of romance: the quest, bravery, and chivalry. The first element represented in the story is the quest. It is during the quest that the hero undertakes a perilous journey in search of value. In this case Sir Gawain accepts the Green Knight’s test because he is always in search of a challenge due to his knightly call to chivalry. In this quest Gawain has to overcome danger for love of a high ideal. He is tested several times by the Green Knight first at the castle and then again during the second part of his challenge. Gawain, like all true heroes, overcomes every obstacle thrown at him and if he cannot overcome it then he redeems himself for it later on in his journey. He takes on this challenge to uphold his high ideal of how a knight should act. Though at the end of his quest he learns that he cannot always live up to such high ideals since he, like all others, is human and capable of making mistakes. The second element represented in the story is bravery. During Sir Gawain’s quest he remains courageous and brave at all times. He feels that honor and valor are the most important qualities in a knight and always strives to uphold them. The first evidence of Gawain’s bravery is demonstrated when he accepts the challenge put forth by the green knight. He is truly brave since he is the only knight to step up to the challenge. â€Å"Gawain accepts the challenge- no other knight has dared to, and Gawain refuses to let the king give up his life.† His bravery never falters and he commits to the first part of the challenge by cutting off the knight’s head. He shows more bravery by actually returning in a year for the second part of the challenge. He also proves his honor by setting out to find the Green Knight a year later; even though he does not know where he lives and is certain his death will come about from the meeting. Only once does his bravery decline wh en he flinches at the green knight’s first stroke of the axe. â€Å"But you! You tremble at heart before you’re touched! / I’m bound to be called a better man than you, then, / my lord† (118-120). But he regains his bravery and survives the knight’s axe. Afterwards even the green knight congratulates him on his bravery, calling him the worthiest of Arthur’s knights and forgiving his actions. The final element represented in the story is chivalry. Throughout the story Sir Gawain’s chivalry is constantly being tested. The ideals of chivalry come from the Christian concept of morality. When Sir Gawain sets off on his journey his morality is tested at the castle. He agrees to give the lord whatever he wins but his morality fails him and he does not live up to his word. He was tempted by the lord’s beautiful young wife and succumbed to her. However, it wasn’t just that he was kissing the lord’s wife but he also kept the green girdle from the lord, going against their agreement. â€Å"When the lord returns from the hunt, Gawain gives him the kisses but keeps the sash a secret.† Although Gawain was un-chivalrous in kissing his wife he still maintained some morality by not sleeping with her. Sir Gawain now posses the magical green sash and also a guilty conscience, though he is able to redeem his earlier actions by confessing to the Green Knigh t, who was lord of the castle. Sir Gawain shows this time that he is truly chivalrous by admitting his wrongdoings; he has regained his sense of morality, and asks for the knight’s forgiveness. â€Å"I can’t deny my guilt; / My works shine none too fair! / Give me your good will / And henceforth I’ll beware† (256-259). From this Gawain learns that he is just a physical being who is concerned above all else with his own life. Chivalry provides a valuable set of common ideals towards which one strives to achieve, however, a person must still remain conscious of his or her own morality and weakness. When Gawain flinches from the knight’s axe and accepts the green girdle it shows that even though he may be the most chivalrous knight he is still human and capable of error. The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight focuses on three elements of a romance: the quest, bravery, and chivalry. In the end Sir Gawain realizes his weakness after completing his quest, upholding bravery, and remaining chivalrous.

Restoring the American Chestnut Tree

Restoring the American Chestnut Tree Glory Days of American Chestnut American chestnut was once the most important tree of the Eastern North American Hardwood Forest. One fourth of this forest was composed of native chestnut trees. According to a historical publication, many of the dry ridge tops of the central Appalachians were so thoroughly crowded with chestnut that, in early summer, when their canopies were filled with creamy-white flowers, the mountains appeared snow-capped. The Castanea dentata  (scientific name) nut was a central part of eastern rural economies. Communities enjoyed eating chestnuts and their livestock was fed and fattened by the nut. The nuts not consumed were sold if a market was available. Chestnut fruit was an important cash crop for many Appalachian families that lived near rail hubs. Holiday chestnuts were transported to New York, Philadelphia and to other big-city dealers who sold them to street vendors who sold them fresh-roasted. American Chestnut was also a major lumber producer and used by home builders and woodworkers. According to the American Chestnut Foundation or TACF, the tree grew straight and often branch-free for fifty feet. Loggers tell of loading entire railroad cars with boards cut from just one tree. Straight-grained, lighter in weight than oak and more easily worked, chestnut was as rot resistant as redwood. The tree was used for nearly every wood product of the day - utility poles, railroad ties, shingles, paneling, fine furniture, musical instruments, even paper. The American Chestnut Tragedy A devastating chestnut disease was first introduced in North America from an exported tree to New York City in 1904.This new American chestnut blight, caused by the chestnut blight fungus and presumably brought in from eastern Asia, was first found in only a few trees in the New York Zoological Garden. The blight rapidly spread to northeastern American forests and in its wake left only dead and dying stems in what was a healthy chestnut forest. By 1950, American chestnut had tragically disappeared except for shrubby root sprouts the species still continually produces (and which also quickly become infected). Like many other introduced diseases and insect pests, the blight quickly spread. The chestnut, being completely defenseless, faced wholesale destruction. The blight ultimately invaded every tree throughout the entire range of the chestnut, where now only rare remnant sprouts are found. But with these sprouts bring some hope of reestablishing American chestnut. For decades, plant pathologists and breeders have tried to create a blight-resistant tree by crossing our own species with other chestnut species from Asia. Native chestnut trees also exist in isolated areas where the blight is not found and are being studied.   Restoring the American Chestnut Advances in genetics have given researchers new directions and ideas. Working and understanding the complex biological processes of blight resistance still need further study and improved nursery science. TACF is a leader in American chestnut restoration and confident that we now know we can have this precious tree back.   In 1989, The American Chestnut Foundation established the Wagner Research Farm. The purpose of the farm was to continue a breeding program for ultimately saving the American chestnut. Chestnut trees have been planted at the farm, crossed, and grown at various stages of genetic manipulation. Their breeding program is designed to do two things: Introduce into the American chestnut the genetic material responsible for blight resistance.Preserve the genetic heritage of the American species. Modern techniques are now being used in restoration, but success is measured in decades of genetic hybridization. An elaborate and time-consuming breeding program of backcrossing and intercrossing new cultivars is TACFs plan to develop a chestnut that will exhibit virtually every Castanea dentata  characteristic. The ultimate desire is a tree that is fully resistant and, when crossed, the resistant parents will breed true for resistance. The breeding method began by crossing the ​Castanea mollissima and ​Castanea dentata  to obtain a hybrid which was one-half American and one-half Chinese. The hybrid was then crossed to another American chestnut to obtain a tree which is three-fourths dentata and one-fourth mollissima. Each further cycle of backcrossing reduces the Chinese fraction by a factor of one-half. The idea is to dilute out all of the Chinese chestnut characteristics except for blight resistance down to where trees are fifteen-sixteenths dentata, one-sixteenth mollissima. At that point of dilution, most trees will be indistinguishable by experts from pure dentata trees. Researchers at TACF report that the process of seed production and testing for blight resistance now requires about six years per backcross generation and five years for intercross generations. Says TACF about the future of a resistant American chestnut: We planted our first set of intercross progeny from the third backcross in 2002. Well have progeny from the second intercross and our first line of blight  resistant American chestnuts will be ready for planting in less than five years!

The God Delusion Debate Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The God Delusion Debate - Article Example Evaluation of the debate In the debate, Dawkins explains his theses regarding the rejection of God’s existence saying that science is based on evidence-based grounds whereas faith is blind and is based merely on satisfactory beliefs and thus it drags humans to believe what is told in religion without the need of understanding and exploring. He says that science does not support religion; rather, it supports rationalism or atheism. He further argues that the designer God, if there is one, must need another designer to resign him. He argues that Christianity poses dangers to the existence of humans as all wars and destructions come as a result of the religious beliefs and difference in faiths. In short, the debate is all about the six main claims that Dawkins has presented in his book. The matchless arguments placed by Lennox dragged Dawkins to give a second thought on his atheistic views and at the end of the debate, Dawkins comes to admit that God is not a delusion. Dawkinsâ⠂¬â„¢s Arguments Dawkins (2006) explains an argument from his book, that is, faith is blind whereas science is evidence-based (p.92). He argues that faith is another name for self-created superstitious beliefs. According to Dawkins, â€Å"science uses evidence to discover the truth about the universe† and scientific discoveries are based on research and investigation. Thus it is based on clear pieces of evidence and proofs and has â€Å"grown out of religious traditions†. Another argument that Dawkins explains from his book is the Ultimate Boeing 747 gambit, that is, the designer is dead; otherwise, one must explain who designed the designer (p.113). He explains this argument by saying that the creator of this universe and everything in it has to be as complicated as his creation, and if a complicated entity needs a designer to come into being, then the designer being complicated also needs a designer, and this process should go on to infinite times back. He argues tha t the existence of life on this earth has been designed by natural selection and evolution and, thus, the designer must have evolved through the same mechanism. Counter-Arguments Lennox presented his counter-arguments about faith being blind and science being evidence-based. He said that science is not able to answer the questions that come in a human being’s mind- Who am I? What is the purpose of my creation? Where am I going? Answers to these questions are taught by religion and faith in God. Science is not able to answer any of these questions. He further caught Dawkins off-guard by asking him if he had faith in his wife to which Dawkins responded affirmatively. And when Lennox asked what was the evidence of this faith, Dawkins gave contradictory statements. Lennox explained the evidence for some of the illustrations from the Bible to prove that â€Å"not all faith is blind faith†. About Dawkins’s assertion about the designer hypothesis, Lennox counter-argued that â€Å"Darwinism does not explain life† because he had just explained that the evolution began due to a mutant replicator but he failed to explain â€Å"how the replicator came to exist at the first place†. Lennox said that the designer of the universe has not been created by anyone and he is eternal.  

Discussing Darwins Evolutionary Theory through Using Monsters, Like Research Paper

Discussing Darwins Evolutionary Theory through Using Monsters, Like Werewolves - Research Paper Example The article is well-written, thorough, vivid, and easy to follow or understand. The author successfully conveys the evolution of people’s beliefs about monsters and how scientists, especially naturalists, tried to prove that monsters are not real, or merely products of a restless imagination. This essay evaluates the article in terms of content and purpose. The article is divided into three subtopics—The Slow Death of the Wolfman, Missing Links, and From Apes to Ape Men. As far back as 2,000 B.C., the idea of a werewolf has already existed. During the ancient period, images of monsters filled the imaginations of ordinary folks; many assumed that prehistory was characterized by a frightening environment of alive distorted body parts, moving around and joining together to form strange hybrids. No one during Darwin’s time believed in such an idea, but it was completely rational to look at the mysteries of the production of species—evolution or transmutation. Eventually, monsters have been regarded as probable links to the evolution of new species (Amigoni 36). If monsters were mutations or departures from the normal, then perhaps they were the answer to the question of species differences. This is the main point of the article. In terms of content, the article is clear-cut and explanatory, but not in a tedious, dull way. Although the author talks about a subject matter that is scientific, technical, and formal, he is able to keep the discussion appealing and fascinating by making his descriptions vivid or graphics. For instance, he describes how evolutionists of the 19th century look at the idea of monsters in this way (Regal 2): Others, though unwilling to accept mermaids, argued that even more, wondrous creatures existed as a result of evolution.  

Things impact on the effectiveness of the communication process Essay Example for Free

Things impact on the effectiveness of the communication process Essay 1.Needs Expectations Needs and expectations help people predict the action of ourselves and other people under different environment. If an employee does not complete a work on time, the manager must be disappointed. Also, if the manager does not communicate clearly with an employee when the manager give the employee his expectations, then the person will have some problems on meeting his needs. However, if the manager communicates clearly expectations, then the employee can do works productively and minimize problems. 2.Technology Most people now use e-mail to communicate with each other. E-mail is really a useful and convenient communication method in the world. However, it also can bring some troubles. If X send an e-mail to Y but there are many mistakes in grammar and spelling, this e-mail must leave a bad impression on Y. As we lack of fact-to-face communication, the impression of someone is from using electronic communication mode such as e-mail, but sometimes this mode will influence the effective of communication progress. 3.Cultural Differences Culture differences in language, customs, behaviors and so on. Sometimes, culture may set a barrier to communication between individuals. People with different cultural backgrounds may think their culture is the best. This thought may affect the communication between individuals from different cultural backgrounds and set barrier to our stable and harmonious society. 4.Attitude Bad attitude will affect the effective of communication with another person. The bad attitude can lead to mistrust or nervous or fears which will set barriers to communication. These feelings will make people lack of interest in the topic that they are talking now. Good attitude can make communication effectively. For making a good communication, people need to use â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  and find the point of other people.

Creating an Effective Group Therapy Environment for Adults Essay

Group therapy is an important method that is commonly used by psychiatric professionals in the treatment of many types of mental illnesses. They consist of three or more people and are targeted at promoting psychological development and change. There are three different types of groups. The task group works by using tasks, such as activities and techniques, designed to help clients work toward desired goals. In addition, midrange groups work by allowing clients to share their thoughts and feelings with others who have learned to cope with similar problems over a longer period of time. Lastly, process groups work by allowing clients to work on their communicating patterns, skills and methods (Fortinash & Holoday Worrett, 2008). Task groups consist of activity therapies, which include occupational, psychodrama, music, dance, and art. These activities are used to allow clients to safely express themselves in a positive and constructive manner. They also promote social skills, and are led by occupational and art therapists (Montgomery, 2002). Midrange groups include educational, problem-solving and support groups. They include anger management, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous), and cognitive-behavioral groups. These groups allow clients to surround themselves with others, who are dealing with similar issues and are supportive of one another. This prevents the client a sense of loneliness when dealing with their struggles and allows them to openly express themselves. Another type of midrange group called psychoeducational, works by allowing newly diagnosed clients to gain knowledge and effective coping skills. These skills are obtained by working with others who have prior knowledge of similar issues or experi... ...Leadership, Concepts, and Techniques. Web. 20 March 2015 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64211/ Fortinash, K.M. & Holoday Worrett, P.A. (2008). Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4th edition). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby. Leszcz, M. & Kobos, J.C. (2007). PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR GROUP. Web. 20 March 2015 http://www.agpa.org/guidelines/AGPA%20Practice%20Guidelines%202007-PDF.pdf Montgomery, C. (2002). Role of dynamic group therapy in psychiatry. Web. 20 March 2015 http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/8/1/34.full.pdf+html Toseland, R.W. & Rivas, R.F. (2005). AN INTRODUCTION TO GROUP WORK PRACTICE, (5th edition). Web. 20 March 2015 http://vig.pearsonptr.com:8081/samplechapter/0205376061.pdf Wise, J.E. (2009). Book essays and reviews. Psychodynamic group psychotherapy, fourth edition. Psychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 72(3), 299-302.

The Long Term Impact of Staff Reduction on Surviving Staff: Starbucks Experience

Research Aims Staff reductions are often required as part of the restructuring of an organisation, or as a response to economic conditions. However, the focus of the research here is to look at the long term and whether this type of staff reduction has an impact on the staff that remain, rather than focussing on those that leave. It is argued, at the outset, that the remaining members of staff are often overlooked, as they are perceived to be the â€Å"lucky ones†. Despite this, the basis of the research is that there will be both a psychological and practical impact on those remaining staff and these issues needs to be considered with much greater emphasis by the management team when looking at this type of restructuring. The aim is to provide a much greater understanding, by looking at Starbucks as an example, so that the management team is in a better position to deal with these types of situations in the future (Ferrie et al., 2001) Objectives In order to achieve this aim and to look at the broader issues associated with staff reactions, it is recognised that there will need to be several focussed objectives. Staff reactions are by their very nature going to vary, depending on a variety of subjective factors and by being clear with the objectives this will ensure that the overall aim remains the focus of the research throughout. The key objectives are as follows: To gain an understanding of the initial redundancy or downsizing process, including the impact of the various selection processes; for example, the long-term impact is likely to be different where the redundancy is voluntary and therefore understanding the involvement of those staff retained in the process is the first step to understanding the reactions. To understand the perception of individuals, depending on their role within the downsizing process; this recognises that there are multiple staff being impacted on when some are made redundant as well as the retained staff. These include the staff members who were not involved in the process, in the first place, as well as the managers, to make the ultimate decision. To appreciate the psychological reactions and individual perceptions of those staff members who remain within the organisation, depending on the way in which this process is managed; for example, is there a difference between staff who are engaged with post-redundancy, or does it generally seem preferable to return to a â€Å"business as usual† mentality (Armstrong-Stassen, 1993) Finally, the impact on the performance of the business over a longer time horizon will then be considered, looking at the immediate aftermath, as well as six months or even one year down the line, with potential reference to the ways in w hich staff members then react when the recovery process takes place. For example, it is potentially suggested in the literature that staff lack loyalty to the organisation and when general economic conditions improve may be more likely to look for alternative employment, as a result of the treatment they received during the recessionary period. Research Questions Two key questions emerge from this proposed research: Which factors impact on and to what extent do they impact on the remaining employees, following a period of downsizing or redundancy How can a management team look to mitigate the negative effects of downsizing and redundancy Critical Review of the Literature The literature in this area has already dealt with a variety of factors relating to redundancy and the impact on an organisation, but has not looked specifically at the longer term impact on the retained staff and the wider staff groups that may not have been directly linked to the restructuring and decision making. Firstly, it is noted that research in this area recognises that staff members will typically understand that there are often periods where it is necessary to downsize or restructure, to such an extent that there will be involuntary redundancies. Klein (2009) states that, although staff will recognise this need, there is now also a recognition that the business managers are making decisions with the staff in mind, but are instead looking specifically at the immediate business demands. This shows lack of long term recognition of business sustainability, when it comes to retaining staff loyalty. Research by Machlowitz (1983) looked at the emotions of the individuals, following on from a redundancy situation where they were survivors. This looked at the immediate aftermath, from an individual perspective, finding that individuals typically felt emotions of guilt or isolation, as well as a feeling of betrayal, where they felt that the process had not been undertaken completely fairly. Research from Brockner et al. (1985) looked at a laboratory experiment where students were subject to â€Å"lay offs†, finding that feelings of inequality were emerging and a sense of disgruntlement happened where it was felt that the relationship between the individuals was in some way unfair. This indicates that where there is a redundancy situation, the vitally important aspect to consider is the process of the downsizing, rather than the actual downsizing itself. Anxiety also ranked as a driving factor, as there was the concern that others would be made redundant, in the future. These perceptions and fears potentially result in efficiency within the organisation reducing and the staff then being more prepared to look towards other locations for their long term employment (Hughes, 2000). The longer term impact of staff reduction and downsizing remains largely unexamined and the purpose of this paper is to look at how these activities can have an impact on the longer term operation within the business, by understanding the way in which the surviving individuals react (Cascio,1993). Further research is also required to ensure that the management team understands the impact of the way they handle a downsizing process and that this can have a direct and lasting impact on the success of the business, in the long run. Industry background In order to explore this issue in more detail and to create a relevant analysis, Starbucks is being looked at as a case study. Starbucks presents an interesting opportunity for analysis, as it has risen very rapidly from its first store which opened in 1971 to an organisation that has stores in nearly 21,000 locations across the world. Despite this, during the last ten years, the store has actually reduced its numbers, in the wake of the global financial crisis and lowering profits (Jennings, 2008). Starbucks was not seemingly on the brink of disaster and in fact continued to open up other stores across the world, yet chose to close 600 stores across the United States, creating an interesting question as to how it impacted upon staff members where there were reports of a globally successful organisation that was still experiencing redundancies in their local area. Arguably, the reason for the downsizing in the United States was the recognition that they had achieve the maximum growth available within the industry and they simply had too many stores. Takeaway coffee is largely a luxury product, with a limited number of affluent individuals able to partake on a regular basis. Despite Starbucks being a popular location for individuals and being recognised as an outlet in which individuals can choose to spend a large amount of time working or meeting friends, there are some limits to the number of customers who are prepared to pay premium price for good quality beverages. With an industry essentially at saturation point, there needs to be a readjustment of strategy, yet there is likely to be a reaction from the employees who feel somewhat jilted having been involved in the dramatic growth and now suffering from their own success and hard work. This type of reduction is therefore particularly interesting, as it is a reaction within the industry, rather than something which can necessarily be attributed to the staff members themselves. Research design The research design for this paper is particularly important, as it involves looking at the feelings and reactions of individuals, thus making it a different type of research than simply collecting statistical data and then analysing this in a quantitative manner. In order to look at the reactions of individuals to a downsizing scenario, it is necessary to consider a sufficiently broad range of individuals, to gain any material understanding of exactly what is actually going on and the way in which individuals react. Different individuals will naturally react differently to a downsizing scenario. Certain individuals may even view this as an opportunity to further their own position, as there will be less competition within the organisation when it comes to securing their future; others will be much less positive, despite both individuals being part of the same process (Vahtera et al., 1997). For this reason, the primary method of research will be a detailed case study of precisely what is happening within the organisation. This will include an understanding of the management theory behind the downsizing, before then going on to undertake a relatively detailed questionnaire with individuals from a variety of different locations, all of whom have been affected by the downsizing in some way, as well as completing at least two focus groups where individuals are brought together to discuss their experiences. This form of research is particularly important in this scenario, due to the fact that when individuals are left to openly discuss their thoughts and feelings, it is likely that they will open up and produce a much deeper understanding of their reactions (Weca, 2008). Data Analysis Plan Due to the qualitative nature of the research planned, the necessary data analysis also needs to be sufficiently open to looking at individual reactions and trying to find consistency of patterns of behaviours or thoughts. For this reason, the questionnaires will involve a quantitative analysis of the results, which will offer an understanding of any patterns being formed, before then looking towards the qualitative aspect of the research, in order to understand why certain responses have been obtained. By taking this two-stage approach, it is anticipated that the overall conclusions will have sufficient certainty, based on the quantitative analysis and will also be able to add to the understanding, through the use of individual thoughts and responses. A particular concern does arise, however, that there will be some limitations in the accuracy of the research. Firstly, the research focuses on survivors within a certain location or organisation and there may be an unwillingness of th e individuals to be completely open about their thoughts and feelings, for fear of jeopardising their own position in the future. There are also likely to be limitations, due to the fact that this research is focusing on one organisation alone and downsizing may have different responses in different organisations (Stone, 2008). By ensuring that any results obtained are dealt with anonymously, this will assist in some way to ensure greater accuracy. Nevertheless, there will always be the need to recognise that interviewing survivors of a redundancy process is potentially a skewed approach and some individuals are going to present an inaccurate picture, purely to further their own position, or at least to protect it. On balance, however, this overall analysis is likely to present the most balanced result and also establish some themes and generalisations which will be useful for the future. Conclusion In conclusion, understanding the impact of a downsizing programme on surviving staff members is crucial to the approach taken by the management team and any such situations in the future, either within the same organisation or for management teams of other organisations (Schwaner-Albright, 2008). Personal reactions to a situation can be somewhat difficult to appreciate and understand, due to the fact that individuals, by their very nature, will react differently to exactly the same factual scenario. The aim of this research, is to identify themes and generic strategies that may be useful to those looking at downsizing in the future, in order to ensure that surviving members of staff do not suffer from the negative effect of the redundancies and that the organisation is able to return to full efficiency, as soon as possible. Time-scale for Project This research is being undertaken over one academic year, although the plan is to undertake a full research and write-up within eight months. The following chart depicts the general approach that is being followed. 12345678 Background, Aims and Objectives Literature Review Research Design Research Collection Analysis of Research Writing Up Revisiting and Checking The majority of this research will involve the collection of primary data and the analysis of the research findings that have then been collected. It is anticipated that there will need to be several re-visits to the original data, as new information or themes arise. For example, analysing questionnaires will provide a strong starting point for the focus groups, but following the focus groups, it may then be necessary to go back to the questionnaires to further explore certain key issues. It is for this reason that the research collection and analysis of research findings takes up such a substantial part of the time allowed. There is a degree of flexibility in this process and the research will be sufficiently flexible to ensure that the key points arising from both the case study, conducted as part of the literature review and the research collection, is able to take a longer period of time, if required. Resources As noted previously, the research is focusing entirely on the experience of individuals within one organisation. Therefore, good access to those individuals will be an essential element of ensuring that this research is conducted in sufficient depth. It is also noted at the outset that one of the main aims of this research is to provide the management team with guidance as to how it can better manage a downsizing operation in the future and therefore having management support in order to gain access to key individuals is a necessary resource. Secondly, understanding the responses received and looking at existing literature will also require access to a variety of different publications, although this can largely be obtained through library facilities. On balance, the key resource within this research is the ability to speak to a variety of individuals who have survived the downsizing process in Starbucks. This will require the management team to be completely supportive of the overall agenda. Individuals may be reluctant to speak about the subject or do not feel that the management team is supportive of this. No specific software is required for the analysis, although Microsoft Office suite including Excel will be useful, in order to collate the information received. References Armstrong-Stassen, M. (1993). Survivors reactions to a workforce reduction: A comparison of blue-collar workers and their supervisors. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 10: 334-343. Cascio, W. F. (1993). Downsizing: What do we knowWhat have we learnedAcademy of Management Executive, 7: 95-106. Ferrie, J. E., Shipley, M. J., Marmot, M. G., Martikainen, P., Stansfield, S. A., & Smith, G. D. (2001). Job insecurity in white-collar workers: Toward an explanation of associations with health. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 6: 26-42. Hughes, J. (2000). Avoidance of emotional pain during downsizing in a public agency. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 52: 256-268. Jennings, L. (2008). Starbucks to pull breakfast items, shut 100 units, put focus back on java. Nation’s Restaurant News. [Online Version] published 11th February 2008, reproduced in bnet.com, available from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_6_42/ai_n24267543 [Accessed 12/11/2014]. Kivimaki, M., Vahtera, J., Pentti, J., & Ferrie, J. (2000). Factors underlying the effects of organizational downsizing on health of employees: Longitudinal cohort study. British Medical Journal, 320: 971-976. Schwaner-Albright, O., (2008). Tasting the future of Starbucks coffee from a new machine. The New York Times. [Online Version]. Published March 26th 2008, available from: http://www.nytimes.com/03/26/dining/26starbucks.html?_r?=2&sq=starbucks&st=nyt&oref=slogin [Accessed 12/11/2014]. Stone, B. (2008). Starbucks Plans Return to its Roots. The New York Times, [Online Version], published March 20th 2008, available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/business/20sbux.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=starbucks&st=nyt&scp=3 [Accessed 12/11/2014]. Vahtera, J., Kivimaki, M., & Pentti, J. (1997). Effect of organizational downsizing on health of employees. The Lancet, 350: 1124-1128. Weca (2008). Pay more/ stop reliance on Tips. Mystarbucksidea.com. Posted May 23rd 2008, available from http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaView?id=087500000004hShAAI[Accessed 12/11/2014].

Research Summary and Ethical Considerations Essay

â€Å"According to statistics presented by the National Interview Survey (2010) there are approximately 7.1 million children in the United States who have asthma.† (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics [CDCNCHS], 2010). â€Å"Asthma is an inflammatory disease that is characterized by airway obstruction and may cause episodes of wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing.† (Walker, 2012). â€Å"Studies have shown that these symptoms are difficult to manage in obese asthmatic children as the medications used to treat asthma are less effective on them due to the added weight. This paper summarizes a quantitative study showing that enhanced physical activity and asthma management education can reduce asthmatic symptoms in children.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). It includes introduction, background, methods, results, ethical considerations and conclusion summary of the study. Introduction â€Å"Children with asthma are at risk for obesity and resultant severity of the disease due to their reluctance towards physical activity. In order to prevent this risk an educational and activity program was developed for elementary schoolchildren with moderate persistent asthma utilizing a quantitative study design. The introduction of this program resulted in significant improvement in lung conditions and reduction of the number of emergency room visits while potentially reducing the risk of obesity later in life.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). Background of Study â€Å"Reports show that seventy five percent of all children in the United States who need emergent care due to their asthma are overweight. Children with  moderate to severe persistent asthma have a higher incidence of also being obese. Obese asthmatics are less responsive to medications used to treat asthma. The reluctance to physical activity is due to the fear of asthma attack with exercise. This leads to obesity and obesity leads to more severe asthma symptoms. In order to break this cycle effective intervention is necessary. The most effective intervention is increased physical activity. Developing and evaluating understanding the mechanisms of asthma control and promoting physical activity in participating asthmatic elementary school-aged children was a pilot program resulting in reduced severity of asthma symptoms which was also the purpose of the study.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). This study is significant for nurses as they take care of children with asthma in clinics a nd hospitals effectively intervening to improve their health. Methods of Study â€Å"A quantitative, non-experimental, longitudinal design was used to evaluate a pilot asthma program with emphasis on physical activity in order to improve asthma control among children with moderate persistent asthma. Asthma symptoms, lung condition, and willingness to participate in physical exercise were compared before and one month after the six week asthma program. As a pilot study, this program was an intervention-only program without a control group. The sample was collected from participants of Breathe LA’s Lung Power program with moderate persistent asthma. Ten children between the ages of seven to twelve years old both males and females who volunteered for the study were selected for a six week asthma program. Barriers to proper asthma management were identified and treated by parental interviews. Introductory and concluding spirometry tests were done to assess the actual improvement in lung volume post program. Physical activity was closely monitored and performed only after sufficient management skills were taught to and reinforced by the participants and parents. Six lessons were prepared and delivered over two hours weekly sessions.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). Results of Study â€Å"Throughout the six week program the participants’ asthmatic attack rates dropped significantly. Weekly and monthly asthmatic incidences also decreased significantly. Although not statistically significant, emergency  room visits dropped after the six week program and the participants also engaged in significantly more physical activities in a given week and month compared to pre-program activities. The spirometry test post-program results showed a slight, but significant increase in lung volume.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). The implications of this study to nursing are very significant. Being the caregiver to children with asthma in clinics and hospitals nurses can make a huge difference in their lives by sharing the significant findings of the study and incorporating it in their daily care regimen. Teaching proper symptom management and physical activity to parents and children will significantly improve their health. Ethical Considerations of Study The authors are affiliated with California State University Fullerton and the study was reviewed by editorial board, blind peer, and expert peer. The study sample was a sub-group of pre-existing participants of the Breathe LA’s Lung Power program. In adherence to the code of ethics for the research study patient privacy was protected through the initial program. Only patients who volunteered were included in the study and the program was held in the Breathe LA facility located in Los Angeles. â€Å"Facilitators present throughout the program included a respiratory therapist and volunteer respiratory therapy students.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). Parents were to observe at all times and intervene as appropriate to the study. The article fails to mention approval acquired from an institutional review board. There is a possibility that there may be a blanket consent that covers the research study via the initial Lung Power program which was in accordance to laws in Los Angeles. Conclusion â€Å"Children with asthma represent a population group more prone to becoming obese than their non-asthmatic counterparts. Understanding the mechanism of what causes asthma and being able to control asthma enough to engage in physical activity is significant. Therefore, future asthma management programs should incorporate more supervised physical exercises. Educators, therapists, nurses, parents and coaches need to understand that moderate physical exercise is a remedy for asthma symptoms, not the cause and should take an active role in providing asthma education for children with moderate persistent asthma. Increasing supervised, moderate physical exercise for  these children can reduce asthmatic symptoms and risk for obesity later in life.† (Haines & Kim, 2013). References U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. (2010). Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health Interview Survey, 2009. (DHHS Publication No. (PHS)-2011-1575). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr10/sr10247.pdf Walker, V. (2012). Factors Related to Emotional Responses in School-aged Children Who Have Asthma. Issues In Mental Health Nursing, 33(7), 406-429. doi:10.3109/01612840.2012.682327 Haines, M. S., & Kim, D. H. (2013). A Study of the Effects of Physical Activity on Asthmatic Symptoms and Obesity Risk in Elementary School-Aged Children. American Journal Of Health Education, 44(3), 156-161. doi:10.1080/19325037.2013.779905

Geoglyphs - Worldwide Ancient Art of the Landscape

Geoglyphs - Worldwide Ancient Art of the Landscape A geoglyph is an ancient ground drawing, low relief mound, or other geometric or effigy work that was formed by humans out of earth or stone. Many of them are enormous and their patterns cannot be fully appreciated visually without the use of aircraft or drones, yet they are  found in isolated places throughout the world and some are thousands of years old. Why they were built remains a mystery: purposes attributed to them are almost as varied as their shapes and locations. They could be land and resource markers, animal traps, cemeteries, water management features, public ceremonial spaces, and/or astronomical alignments. What is a Geoglyph? A geoglyph is a human-made rearrangement of the natural landscape to create a geometric or effigy form.They are found the world over and are difficult to date, but many are several thousands of years old.They are often very large and can only be visually appreciated from high above.Examples include the Nazca lines in South America, the Uffington Horse in the UK, Effigy Mounds in North America, and Desert Kites in Arabia. What is a Geoglyph? Geoglyphs are known across the world and vary widely in construction type and size. Researchers recognize two broad categories of geoglyphs: extractive and additive and many geoglyphs combine the two techniques. Extractive geoglyphs (also called negative, campo barrido or intaglio) involves scraping away of the top layer of soil on a piece of land, exposing contrasting colors and textures of the lower layer to create designs.Additive geoglyphs (or positive or rock alignments) are made by gathering materials and piling them on the soil surface to create the design. This 365-foot-long (111 m) silhouette of a horse carved into the chalky side of a hill in the county of Oxfordshire, west of London, stands out clearly downhill from the ruins of Uffington castle. HOPE PRODUCTIONS/Yann Arthus Bertrand / Getty Images Extractive geoglyphs include the Uffington Horse (1000 BCE) and the Cerne Abbas Giant (a.k.a. the Rude Man), although scholars typically refer to them as chalk giants: the vegetation has been scraped away revealing the chalk bedrock. Some scholars have argued that The Cerne Abbas Giant- a big naked guy holding a matching club- may be a 17th-century hoax: but its still a geoglyph. Australias Gummingurru arrangement is a series of additive rock alignments which include animals effigies of emus and turtles and snakes, as well as some geometric shapes. The Nazca Lines Aerial View of Hummingbird Geoglyph, Nazca Lines. Tom Till / Photographers Choice / Getty Images The term geoglyph was likely coined in the 1970s, and it was probably first used in a published document to refer to the famous Nasca Lines of Peru. The Nazca Lines (sometimes spelled Nasca Lines) are hundreds of geoglyphs, abstract and figural art etched into part of the several hundred square kilometers of the Nazca Pampa landscape called the Pampa de San Josà © in coastal northern Peru. Most of the geoglyphs were created by people of the Nasca culture (~100 BCE–500 CE), by scraping away a few inches of rock patina in the desert. The Nazca lines are now known to have been begun in the Late Paracas period, beginning about 400 BCE; the most recent date to 600 CE. There are more than 1,500 examples, and they have been attributed to water and irrigation, ceremonial activity, ritual clearing, concepts of radiality like those expressed in the much later Inca ceque system, and perhaps astronomical alignments. Some scholars such as British archaeo-astronomer Clive Ruggles think some of them may be for pilgrimage walking- deliberately constructed so that the people could follow the path as they meditate. Many of the geoglyphs are simply lines, triangles, rectangles, spirals, trapezoids, and zigzags; others are complex abstract line networks or labyrinths; still others are spectacular humanoid and plant and animal shapes including a hummingbird, a spider, and a monkey. Gravel Drawings and the Big Horn Medicine Wheel One early use of geoglyph referred to a wide variety of gravel ground drawings at the Yuma Wash. The Yuma Wash drawings are one of several such sites found in desert locations in North America from Canada to Baja California, the most famous of which are the Blythe Intaglios and the Big Horn Medicine Wheel (built ca. 1200–1800 CE). In the late twentieth century, geoglyph specifically meant ground drawings, especially those made on desert pavements (the deserts stony surface): but since that time, some scholars have broadened the definition to include low-relief mounds and other geometric-based constructions. The most common form of geoglyph- ground drawings- are in fact found in almost all of known deserts of the world. Some are figural; many are geometric. Native American Geoglyph in Wyoming.   Christian Heeb / Getty Images Native American Effigy Mounds Some North American Native American mounds and mound groups could also be characterized as geoglyphs, such as the Woodland period Effigy Mounds in the upper Midwest and Great Serpent Mound in Ohio: these are low earthen structures made in the shapes of animals or geometric designs. Many of the effigy mounds were destroyed by farmers in the mid-19th century, so the best images we have are from early surveyors such as Squire and Davis. Clearly, Squire and Davis didnt need a drone. Plate XXXV from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. Great Serpent in Adams County, Ohio. Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis 1847 Poverty Point is a 3.500-year-old C-shaped settlement located on the Maco Ridge in Louisiana that is in the shape of spoked concentric circles. The sites original configuration has been a topic of debate for the past fifty years or more, partly due to the erosive forces of the adjacent Bayou Macon. There are the remains of five or six concentric rings cut by three or four radial aventues around an artificially raised plaza. 3,000 Year Old Poverty Point Earthwork.   Richard A. Cooke / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images In South Americas Amazon rainforest there are hundreds of geometrically-shaped (circles, ellipses, rectangles, and squares) ditched enclosures with flat centers that researchers have termed geoglyphs, although they may have served as water reservoirs or community central places. Works of the Old Men Hundreds of thousands of geoglyphs are known in or close to lava fields throughout the Arabian peninsula. In the Black Desert of Jordan, ruins, inscriptions, and geoglyphs are called by the Bedouin tribes who live the Works of the  Old Men. First brought to scholarly attention by RAF pilots flying over the desert shortly after the Arab revolt of 1916, the geoglyphs were made of stacks of basalt, between two to three slabs high. They are classified into four main categories based on their shape: kites, meandering walls, wheels, and pendants. The kites and associated walls (called desert kites) are thought to be mass kill hunting tools; wheels (circular stone arrangements with spokes) appear to be constructed for funerary or ritual use, and pendants are strings of burial cairns. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL dating) on examples in the Wadi Wisad region suggest they were built in two main pulses, one in the Late Neolithic about 8,500 years ago and one about 5,400 years ago du ring the Early Bronze Age-Chalcolithic. Atacama Geoglyphs Llama Caravan Geoglyphs, Atacama Desert, Northern Chile. Paul Harris / Getty Images The Atacama Geoglyphs are located in the coastal desert of Chile. There were more than 5,000 geoglyphs built between 600-1500 CE, made by moving around the dark desert pavement. In addition to figural art including llamas, lizards, dolphins, monkeys, humans, eagles, and rheas, the Atacama glyphs include circles, concentric circles, circles with dots, rectangles, diamonds, arrows, and crosses. One functional purpose suggested by researcher Luis Briones is that of identifying safe passage and water resources through the desert: the Atacama geoglyphs include several examples of drawings of llama caravans. Studying, Recording, Dating, and Protecting Geoglyphs The documentation of geoglyphs is performed by an ever-increasing variety of remote-sensing techniques including aerial photogrammetry, contemporary high-resolution satellite imagery, radar imagery including Doppler mapping, data from historic CORONA missions, and historic aerial photography such as that of the RAF pilots mapping desert kites. Most recently geoglyph researchers use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). Results from all of these techniques need to be verified by pedestrian survey and/or limited excavations. Dating geoglyphs is a little tricky, but scholars have used associated pottery or other artifacts, associated structures and historic records, radiocarbon dates taken on charcoal from interior soil sampling, pedological studies of soil formation, and OSL of the soils. Sources and Further Information Athanassas, C. D., et al. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (. Journal of Archaeological Science 64 (2015): 1–11. Print.Osl) Dating and Spatial Analysis of Geometric Lines in the Northern Arabian DesertBikoulis, Peter, et al. Ancient Pathways and Geoglyphs in the Sihuas Valley of Southern Peru. Antiquity 92.365 (2018): 1377–91. Print.Briones-M, Luis. The Geoglyphs of the North Chilean Desert: An Archaeological and Artistic Perspective. Antiquity 80 (2006): 9-24. Print.Kennedy, David. The â€Å"Works of the Old Men† in Arabia: Remote Sensing in Interior Arabia. Journal of Archaeological Science 38.12 (2011): 3185–203. Print.Pollard, Joshua. The Uffington White Horse Geoglyph as Sun-Horse. Antiquity 91.356 (2017): 406–20. Print.Ruggles, Clive, and Nicholas J. Saunders. Desert Labyrinth: Lines, Landscape and Meaning at Nazca, Peru. Antiquity 86.334 (2012): 1126–40. Print.

Learn About Redox Problems With an Example

Learn About Redox Problems With an Example In oxidation-reduction or redox reactions, it is important to be able to identify which atoms are being oxidized and which atoms are being reduced. To identify if an atom is either oxidized or reduced, you only have to follow the electrons in the reaction. Example Problem Identify the atoms that were oxidized and which atoms were reduced in the following reaction:Fe2O3 2 Al → Al2O3 2 FeThe first step is to assign oxidation numbers to each atom in the reaction. The oxidation number of an atom is the number of unpaired electrons available for reactions.Review these  rules for assigning oxidation numbers.Fe2O3:The oxidation number of an oxygen atom is -2. 3 oxygen atoms have a total charge of -6. To balance this, the total charge of the iron atoms must be 6. Since there are two iron atoms, each iron must be in the 3 oxidation state. To summarize, -2 electrons per oxygen atom, 3 electrons for each iron atom.2 Al:The oxidation number of a free element is always zero.Al2O3:Using the same rules for Fe2O3, we can see there are -2 electrons for each oxygen atom and 3 electrons for each aluminum atom.2 Fe:Again, the oxidation number of a free element is always zero.Put all this together in the reaction, and we can see where the electrons went:Iron we nt from Fe3 on the left side of the reaction to Fe0 on the right. Each iron atom gained 3 electrons in the reaction.Aluminum went from Al0 on the left to Al3 on the right. Each aluminum atom lost three electrons.Oxygen stayed the same on both sides.With this information, we can tell which atom was oxidized and which atom was reduced. There are two mnemonics to remember which reaction is oxidation and which reaction is reductions. The first one is OIL RIG:Oxidation Involves Loss of electronsReduction Involves Gain of electrons.The second is LEO the lion says GER.Lose Electrons in OxidationGain Electrons in Reduction.Back to our case: Iron gained electrons so iron was oxidized. Aluminum lost electrons so aluminum was reduced.

The labor party under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown has been blamed for Essay

The labor party under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown has been blamed for letting the market be controlled by capitalism - Essay Example Though Cameron blamed Labor for excesses of the recent years for what he termed as turning a blind eye to corporate excesses, the idea of a responsible capitalism was the main agenda behind Cameron’s campaigns. The main question is whether there is any rationality in advocating for a more responsible capitalism, or if here are any ethics and moral standing in capitalism. Keat (2009) argues a distinct ethical consideration has a crucial role in political reasoning. This is against the neutralist restriction of legitimate grounds regarding state actions on moral considerations of rightness. In other words, legal considerations must involve not only the matters of justice, but also the distribution of social wealth, opportunities in life, and the general survival chances. This implies; an ethical system has to be concerned with the pursuit of collective goals, and safeguarding the same good in the country. Therefore, the main question is whether â€Å"let capitalism rip ideology † under conservative party meets the above conditions. Herbermas (1996) states that there cannot be any possible exclusion of ethics from politics, but any political ideology has to be based on nature of ethical reasoning in which the concept of identity and self understanding are central. Ikerd (2008) elaborates the most basic law of science portray that unrestrained capitalism cannot by any chance be sustainable. In other words, according to Ikerd, all economic activities are naturally individualistic; as in capitalism there is no any economic incentive aimed at doing anything for the sole benefit others, and does not offer any thought towards the future generations. This means that any market system has to involve sustainable resource utilization and has to be mindful of each and every individual including the generations to come. Gray (2008) notes while a free market are the best type of market in advocating ethics and morality due to a direct link between contribution and rewards, free markets can corrode some characters while still enhancing others. Therefore, the results of a free market according to Gray will depend much on how one envisions life. Moreover, the thought that free markets emerge spontaneously with the removal of state interference in the market has been vehemently opposed. Therefore, free markets according to Gray do not indicate the absence of a government. In other words, in free markets, the markets depend on a system of laws, which decides what is to be traded or not. Hence, free markets due to presence of stringent of laws governing what is to be traded always involve an aspect of moral constraints policed by governments, and depend on property rights that are created and enforced by the government. Free markets have however led to loss of efficacy and productivity due to redistribution of wealth through taxes. All the same free markets are equivalent to having values in businesses so that organizations operate to standards of moral concepts in a pluralistic society (Griffiths n,d). Therefore, the market fundamentalism proposed by the rightwing was a harsh market dogma that erodes the market of the sustainability and responsibility befitted in a free market with its constraints and limitations. The core of the dogma, which was the assertion that such removal of government control in

Organizational Behavior Terms and Concepts Essay

Organizational Behavior Terms and Concepts - Essay Example There is still some disagreement over the topics that contribute to the composition of the framework for organizational behavior but most people agree that the core topics, part of it would include motivation, leader behavior, leadership power, interpersonal communication, attitude development and perception, learning, group structure and processes, work stress, change processes and conflict management (Robbins, 2004). Now incase of Organizational Behavior, diversity usually refers to the workforce diversity. Workforce diversity refers to the increasing heterogeneity of organizations with the inclusion of workers from different groups. These groups may be created on the basis of ethnicity, age, gender, marital status, immigrants, etc. The key, however, to managing workforce diversity is to bring about flexibility in the organization's culture (Robbins, 2004). The organization might need to come up with better work schedules, compensation plans, physical and work settings, benefits and employees' other varied needs, such as, offering child and elder care, job sharing, flexibility in work hours, etc. Communication, in general, can be defined as the transfer and understanding of meaning or ideas or information (Griffin, Moorehead, 2009). This is basically how information and ideas can be conveyed and holds due relevance for an organization. As the world has globalized, information has become an organizations most vital resource, and organizations are willing to invest heavily in ensuring secure and efficient flow of information from one part of the organization to another. Perfect communication, if such a thing were to exist, would only be achieved if an idea or message was transmitted in such a manner that the picture perceived by the receiver would exactly be the same as envisioned by the sender (Robbins, 2004). Organization, in general, is composed of people, i.e. individuals. So, one way of looking at an organization's effectiveness and efficiency would be to look at aggregating the efficiency and effectiveness of all the individuals who are part of the organization. So, Organizational Behavior would tend to focus on factors that may impact the efficiency and effectiveness of an employee. Now there can be a variety of aspects of the organization's culture or the work environment that may negatively impact an individual's effectiveness and efficiency, which may ultimately hurt the organization in the long run. So, the idea is to tweak and change the work environment, so as to raise the level of effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. Factors such as employee morale, compensation, flexibility of the work environment and leadership play a very vital role in it (Griffin, Moorhead, 2009). These factors result in defining the commitment levels of the individual and ultimately the entir e organization. The concept of a learning organization was something managers and organization theorists came up with in response to the growing interdependence of organizations in times of globalization and change. In simple terms, a learning organization is one that has the capacity to continuously adapt and change given the dynamic nature of the macro or external environment. Just as individuals learn, so do organizations, i.e. all organizations learn whether they consciously choose to or not, in order for their sustained existence learning is a basic requirement. However, some companies such as, Wal-Mart, Xerox,